Oregon
East Evans Creek Road wildfire swells to about 2,000 acres; homes threatened
JACKSON COUNTY, Ore. (KATU) — Additional firefighting resources are being sent to the fast-moving East Evans Creek Road fire in Jackson County as the blaze grows and threatens homes and nearby communities.
In a statement posted at 6:26 a.m. on July 11, the Oregon State Fire Marshal said it is mobilizing four structural task forces and its Blue Incident Management Team to support local response efforts. The fire sparked Friday and “quickly grew to over 1,500 acres,” the agency said.
By Saturday morning, the Oregon Department of Forestry’s Southwest Oregon District estimated the fire at approximately 2,000 acres. Firefighters are working on private and Bureau of Land Management lands about 26 miles north of Medford near the 18000 block of East Evans Creek Road.
The fire was reported Friday afternoon just after 2:40 p.m., according to ODF, when dispatch received a report of a car crash involving a power pole and a downed power line.
Firefighters arrived to find fire burning in nearby vegetation. ODF and the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office are conducting a further investigation into the incident.
Evacuation information
Evacuation orders remained in place as of the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office morning update on Saturday. The sheriff’s office issued Level 3 “Go Now,” Level 2 “Be Set” and Level 1 “Be Ready” evacuation notices for areas surrounding the fire.
Evacuation Level 3 Go Now: JAC-148A
Evacuation Level 2 Be Set: JAC-016, JAC-124, JAC-147, JAC-148B
Evacuation Level 1 Be Ready: JAC-003, JAC-004, JAC-017, JAC-026, JAC-036, JAC-109, JAC-126, JAC-149B
The above zone names can be understood by visiting the following map through Genasys Protect at protect.genasys.com. The map lets users plug in their address to see what zones are under evacuation.
The state fire marshal urged people looking for further evacuation information to follow the local sheriff’s office or check the map at the following website with the latest evacuation information: Jacksoncountyor.gov.
An evacuation shelter for residents and domestic pets has been established at Hanby Middle School, 806 6th Avenue, Gold Hill.
Road closures and traffic blocks remained in effect. The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office said there is an additional roadblock at the 8 mile marker of Antioch Road.
Traffic remains blocked on East Evans Creek Road at Meadows Road on the east side and West Fork Evans Creek Road on the west side. ODF also reported traffic is blocked on East Evans Creek Road at Meadows Road, and said residents will be allowed through the closure when it is safe to do so. The public is asked to avoid the area to allow firefighters and heavy equipment to operate safely.
Livestock shelters
Livestock sheltering options are also available. Horses can be taken to the Jackson County Expo at 21 Peninger Road in Central Point, where expo staff and volunteers are prepared to receive horses. Owners are asked to bring feed, water containers and any necessary medications when possible. Josephine County Fairgrounds can take pigs, goats and smaller animals at 1451 Fairgrounds Road, Grants Pass, OR 97527. Anyone needing livestock sheltering assistance can call 541-776-7206.
Emergency Conflagration Act invoked
Gov. Tina Kotek invoked the Emergency Conflagration Act on Friday night for the East Evans Creek Road Fire in Jackson County, allowing the Oregon State Fire Marshal to mobilize additional resources through the Oregon Fire Mutual Aid System.
The Jackson County Fire Defense Board chief requested assistance with life, safety and structural fire protection, and the state fire marshal concurred with that request.
The agency said it is the first time the Emergency Conflagration Act has been invoked in 2026.
Task forces from Lincoln, Linn, Marion and the south coast—Coos, Curry, Lane and Douglas counties—are being mobilized, according to the state fire marshal. Those resources will join a task force from Klamath County and a strike team from Douglas County that were mobilized Friday evening through Immediate Response to support local structural resources.
“This fire is a reminder how quickly things can change with the dry conditions we have across the state,” Oregon State Fire Marshal Chief Deputy Travis Medema said. “We have a long way to go this fire season, and I ask every Oregonian to do their part to prevent wildfires.”
ODF said warm, dry and breezy conditions were expected to continue across southwest Oregon Saturday, increasing the potential for active fire behavior and spotting.
More than 400 personnel were assigned to the incident Saturday, including 20-person hand crews, engines, dozers, water tenders, heavy equipment, aviation resources and structural task forces, according to ODF. Aviation resources include one Type 3 helicopter with Air Attack, three Type 2 helicopters and two Type 1 helicopters.
Firefighters worked through the night strengthening fire line, reinforcing wet line and mitigating hazardous snags, ODF said. Saturday’s objectives include reinforcing and strengthening existing fire line, extending hose lays along East Evans Creek Road and improving access for firefighters working throughout the incident. Crews are operating in steep terrain, across an old burn scar and around numerous hazard trees.
The Oregon State Fire Marshal Blue Incident Management Team is expected to be in unified command with the Oregon Department of Forestry Team 1, according to the state fire marshal. ODF said Incident Management Team 1 will assume command of the incident this evening, citing the fire’s size and complexity and the need to maintain initial attack capability across southwest Oregon.
Traffic is blocked on East Evans Creek Road at Meadows Road, ODF said. Residents will be allowed through the closure when it is safe to do so, and the public is asked to avoid the area to allow firefighters and heavy equipment to operate safely.
ODF said updates on the East Evans Creek Fire will be provided each morning and evening on their Facebook page at ODF Southwest Oregon District, with additional updates shared throughout the day as significant information becomes available.
Sign up for emergency alerts from Jackson County at this link: Jacksoncountyor.gov.
Gert Zoutendijk, a public information officer for the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Blue Team, confirmed the fire was caused by a downed power line that came down because of a motor vehicle crash.
Zoutendijk said an Oregon Department of Forestry local unit engine was on scene “within 30 seconds,” rendered aid to passengers and noticed the fire started.
As of today, fire officials were estimating the blaze at around 2,000 acres, though Zoutendijk said that number could change because crews have not yet been able to get an infrared flight to confirm the perimeter. An infrared flight was planned for tonight, and the acreage estimate could go up or down once the fire line is mapped more accurately.
Firefighting resources include both wildland and structural protection teams. Zoutendijk said local fire departments and districts have been overwhelmed protecting structures, and the Oregon State Fire Marshal has sent a conflagration delegate. Zoutendijk said six different counties sent resources from five different fire agencies—equipment and firefighters—on the structural side. On the wildland side, Zoutendijk said resources include the Oregon Department of Forestry, the Bureau of Land Management and private resources.
He said the total number of firefighters on the fire, not including structural firefighters who arrived today, was reported at 750.
Evacuations were in place at multiple levels. Zoutendijk said a briefing mentioned that in Level 3 evacuation zones, approximately 100 people were evacuated or affected, including 73 structures. Zoutendijk noted those structures are not all homes and could include commercial buildings. In Level 2 zones, Zoutendijk said about 166 structures were affected, including about 300 people.
Zoutendijk said Gov. Kotek invoking the Conflagration Act allows the state to send additional resources when local fire jurisdictions are overwhelmed and cannot safely and adequately protect their communities.
He stated that local agencies requested resources from the state yesterday because conditions changed quickly. Two task forces arrived and began work, and additional resources were brought in today after the conflagration was enacted last night, including four task forces from four different counties. Those resources are intended to focus on protecting structures in and around threatened areas and to relieve local jurisdictions so they can return to day-to-day emergency response.
Zoutendijk urged Oregonians statewide to sign up for emergency alerts through local fire agencies, emergency management offices, counties or cities, saying the systems can send evacuation notices and other emergency messaging for large-scale incidents.
McMinnville man John Nelson rescued in Mount Jefferson Wilderness
Retired McMinnville doctor John Nelson was rescued from the Mount Jefferson Wilderness after going missing, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office said.
Beaches from Tillamook Head to the Columbia River will close to razor clam harvesting on July 15.
The closure happens annually on all Clatsop County beaches, an 18-mile stretch of Oregon’s northernmost coast, to allow juvenile razor clams a summer growth window.
The harvest is expected to resume on Oct. 1, “unless there is a closure for toxin levels,” the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife explained.
According to ODFW shellfish biologist Matt Hunter, 90% of Oregon razor clams are harvested along this stretch of coast. The closure, first established in the late 1960s, protects juvenile razor clams that utilize the summer months to feed on phytoplankton – a staple food source.
The closure doesn’t apply to razor clams below Clatsop beaches. Alternative harvesting spots include Agate Beach, Waldport Beach, Whiskey Run Beach and Meyers Creek Beach. Bay clams and muscles will remain open for harvesting.
A shellfish license is required to harvest clams and crab in Oregon. Clammers must have their own container and dig for their own clams. The daily limit is 15 clams, regardless of size or condition.
Before clamming, people should call the Shellfish Biotoxin Hotline at 1-800-448-2474 or check ODFW’s recreation report for biotoxin closures.
Riley Ellis is an outdoor intern at the Statesman Journal. He can be reached at rellis@statesmanjournal.com.
ROSEBURG, Ore. — The push to redraw the Oregon-Idaho border has gained support in parts of Eastern Oregon in recent years, even as some counties have reversed course and the effort remains stalled in Salem.
The Greater Idaho Project is a movement that has been covered for years. Thirteen Oregon counties have voted to consider expanding the Idaho border to cover much of Oregon. Two of those counties — Harney and Wallowa — later voted to repeal their decisions to side with Greater Idaho.
In Douglas County, voters rejected a Greater Idaho-related measure in the May 2022 election. Measure 10-185 asked Douglas County voters to consider expanding the Idaho border. The measure was defeated with 52.6 percent of the vote, meaning more than 47 percent voted for consideration of expanding the Idaho border.
Greater Idaho effort seeks federal help as Oregon lawmakers keep border plan stalled
After that vote, David Jaques, identified as the leader of Greater Idaho in Douglas County, said in 2022, “I’m a lifelong Oregonian. I don’t wanna move to Idaho. Well the good news is we don’t have to move. We’re just gonna draw the line around here.”
The movement’s executive director, Matt MacCaw, said the effort has support from Idaho but remains blocked by Oregon lawmakers.
“We have Idaho as a willing partner saying, hey, all these people in eastern Oregon want to be a part of Idaho. We will take them. We would love to have that conversation,” MacCaw said. “We have the people of Eastern Oregon voting and saying, we want to just peacefully secede from Oregon and join Idaho. But the Oregon Legislature, Western Oregon, is holding eastern Oregon captive against our wishes. The Oregon Legislature refuses to take up the issue, refuses to to have any conversation about letting us go.”
Greater Idaho has now turned its focus to the Trump administration, asking the federal government to fix the standstill.
WEST LINN, Ore. (KOIN) — For some 30 years, locals and boaters along a popular spot on Oregon’s Willamette River have been staring at a 50,000-plus-square-foot home, unsure of what to think.
It’s unfinished, fenced in, and the open-air structure towers over 31 acres that include 2,700 feet of prime riverfront in an area affectionately called “Peach Cove.”
“Being a kid, I would drive the boat and look at it from the river,” said Jason Mendell.
The high-profile realtor never thought he’d actually list the home, yet now he’s fielding calls from all kinds of folks trying to figure out the property’s potential.
“Entrepreneurs, pro-athletes, business owners, and people trying to figure out what you could do with this,” he told Nexstar’s KOIN on a recent summer day.
The home’s specs are massive, and Mendell said if it’s ever completed, it would be the largest mansion in Oregon by far.
The listing includes nine bedrooms, 18 bathrooms, multiple garages for dozens of show cars and other toys. There’s a massive gymnasium or event space, too, which could include a full-size basketball court. Original plans called for two pools.
“There’s obviously only a certain amount of people that can afford a home like this, and they’ve got to have the vision to be able to finish it off,” says Mendell.
Ask around, though, and it doesn’t take long to learn there’s much more to the larger story.
“He said, ‘Would you like to build a home for me?’” says Tom Avgerakis.
The longtime home builder is referring to Mark Wattles, the founder and one-time boss of Hollywood Video, which grew to be the second-biggest video store chain in the country in the 1990s and 2000s.
Avgerakis remembers when Wattles first showed him the architectural sketches.
“He rolled them out, and I went ‘Oh, okay.’ The challenge was thrown out, and we can do it,” he said.
At first, Avgerakis said construction moved swiftly, with 50-plus workers on site moving dirt and using high-grade Oregon lumber to erect the frame.
Then, as 1996 became 1997, construction stalled, and “We anticipated a short amount of time off, but it just grew and grew and grew.”
He said that as the owner moved on to other businesses and eventually moved away, they kept up general maintenance and even planted acres of berries.
The property was eventually unloaded at auction, and it has changed hands a couple of times over the years, but no one has ever fully built it out.
“It’s a diamond in the rough. It’s just incredible,” said Avgerakis.
He hopes to be involved if the project is ever completed, and said much of the original woodwork remains in good condition even if other elements have deteriorated over the years. The current owner recently installed a new roof.
Mendell said they’re talking to potential buyers about “what could be,” whether it’s a private estate, high-end senior living facility or even a vineyard.
“It’s 31 acres of prime real estate that’s unique,” he said.
The asking price is $4.7 million.
The property is deemed Exclusive Farm Use (EFU), according to Clackamas County records.
A spokesperson told Nexstar’s KOIN that it’s approved for the one home but that anything like a larger care facility wouldn’t be allowed unless there was a zoning change.
-
Maine4 seconds agoCollins confident as Maine Democrats move to replace Platner
-
Maryland3 minutes agoThe Final Stretch for Maryland’s 2027 Class: Identifying the Remaining Must‑Gets
-
Michigan8 minutes agoMichigan football lands four-star offensive lineman Lincoln Mageo
-
Massachusetts15 minutes agoMan arrested after injuring Massachusetts State trooper, K-9 in wrong-way crash in Chicopee
-
Minnesota18 minutes ago250 runners take to the Minnewashta Mud Run
-
Mississippi23 minutes ago4-star Kennedy Green commits to Mississippi State football again in 2027 class
-
Missouri30 minutes agoOne dead, hundreds rescued in devastating Missouri flooding – UPI.com
-
Montana33 minutes agoMontana Folk Festival brings heat along with music, food, and art
